• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China harbours ‘giant’ unmanned submarine aspirations

  23rd July 2018

  China has its heart set on large unmanned submarines that could be deployed worldwide, with an R&D; programme currently under way at the Chinese Academy …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2018: New threat radars present intel challenges

  5th June 2018

  Digital radar systems that use new frequency bands and have multifunction capabilities are making it increasingly difficult for electronic intelligence (ELINT) analysts to identify emitters …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOFEX 2018: Jordanian CH-4 makes public debut

  8th May 2018

  The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-4 MALE UAV in service with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) has made its first public …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Chinese Star Shadow on the prowl

  8th February 2018

  A new Chinese-built high-altitude UCAV was unveiled at this year’s Singapore Airshow. The Chengdu-based Star UAV System Company displayed a scale model of its new …

• Defence Notes

  China's water dragon takes to the air

  29th December 2017

  China’s first large-scale amphibious aircraft took its maiden flight from the Jinwan Civil Aviation Airport, Zhuhai, in China’s southern Guangdong Province on 24 December . The …

• Digital Battlespace

  China pushing forward on weaponised AI

  12th January 2018

  China is not fooling around about becoming the world leader in weaponised artificial intelligence (AI), including killer robots and smart systems that can locate enemy troops without …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Armed AV500W flies as new designs surprise

  18th September 2017

  Last month the AV500W rotary-winged UAV from the AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province performed its maiden flight and conducted a …

• Defence Notes

  PLAAF restructures its Airborne Corps

  6th September 2017

  Greater clarity has begun to emerge about the radical restructuring of China’s airborne force – what was once referred to as the 15th Airborne Corps …

• Land Warfare

  Norinco shows off active protection and new AFVs

  23rd August 2017

  The North Industries Corporation (Norinco), China’s largest manufacturer of armoured vehicles, successfully demonstrated its GL5 active protection system (APS) before more than 200 dignitaries from …

• Defence Notes

  PLA celebrates anniversary with new kit

  31st July 2017

  China celebrated the 90th anniversary of the formation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with a massive military parade at the Zhurihe Combined Tactics Training …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CH-5 ready for series production

  18th July 2017

  The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) flew its first serial production version of the CH-5 UAV on 14 July, the flight occurring in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IMDEX Asia: China promotes armed UAVs

  22nd May 2017

  The Ziyan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Company, based in Zhuhai, China, promoted three new rotorcraft UAVs at IMDEX Asia 2017 in Singapore. Only one of the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IMDEX Asia: Chinese USVs are working SCS

  22nd May 2017

  A new Chinese unmanned surface vehicle (USV) was unveiled by the Zhuhai-based Yunzhou Intelligence Technology at IMDEX Asia 2017 in Singapore. A large scale model …

• Land Warfare

  ​IDEX 2017: China enters with force

  20th February 2017

  Chinese companies have come out in force at this year's IDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi, likely indicating a renewed sales drive in the region by …

• Digital Battlespace

  China continues AEW aircraft advances

  3rd February 2017

  As the first US Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft were arriving in Japan on 2 February, it emerged that China is pursuing …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Artillery UAV [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirement & Replacement The Royal Thai Army (RTA) was understood to be seeking a new tactical UAV to replace four legacy Israel Aerospace Industries ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  FL-71

  The FL-71 (Fei Long-2  or Flying Dragon-2) is a supersonic unmanned transportation platform designed by ZT Guide Control. The design was presented at Airshow China ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  CM-502KG

  The CM-502KG is a Chinese air-to-surface missile. It is a variant of the CM-502G, similar in size to the AR-1. It has more than twice ...

• Land: RWS

  UW5

  The UW5 is an uncrewed turret developed by Norinco for integration on AFVs. During its debut at the Zhuhai Airshow in September 2021, it was seen ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VN22

  The VN22 is a 6x6 armoured vehicle unveiled by Norinco at the Zhuhai Airshow in September 2021. Little is known about this vehicle's capabilities, but ...

• Military - USVs

  JARI USV-A

  The JARI USV-A is a large, uncrewed surface vessel developed in China by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  TD220

  The TD220 is an electric, coaxial dual-rotor UAV manufactured by Zhong Hang Zhi (ZHZ). The aircraft, which debuted at the 2014 Singapore Airshow, is designed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Mysterious Bee

  The Mysterious Bee hybrid, fixed-wing/quadcopter UAV was unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow 2016. It is designed to operate from ships, small islands, mountainous areas and ...

• Awing-F100J

  Awing-F100J is the latest UAV from Tianjin-based Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology and was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China for the first time ...

• T333

  The T333 is a coaxial dual-rotor UAV. It is an upgrade to the TD220 unmanned helicopter and was displayed for the first time at the ...

• Military - USVs

  SeaFly-01

  The SeaFly-01 USV, developed by Beijing Sifang Automation, was showcased at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China in November 2016. It is designed for various ...

• Awing-F20

  The Awing-F20 is a fixed-wing UAV designed by Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology. The platform was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China, alongside other ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VN2C

  The VN2C 6x6 armoured vehicle was introduced at the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2016. Aimed at the export market, it appears to be an updated version ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  CH-7

  The CH-7 (Caihong-7) is a turbofan-powered stealth UAV designed for reconnaissance, support and strike missions.  In 2022, an improved version was showcased. The version has ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  FL-2

  The FL-2 is a turbofan-powered multirole MALE UCAV designed to conduct precision strikes against key assets and provide an ISR capability. First displayed at Airshow China ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  MD-22

  The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) unveiled the near-space hypersonic technology testbed MD-22 at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022. Capable of speeds of Mach 7, the ...